as in convinces
to cause (someone) to think or believe something by using methods that make a person unable to think normally
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners. Does advertising brainwash children?
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashes
Verb
-
As previously announced, Burr plays a gruff American record-store owner who convinces a ragtag gang of teenage misfits that their best, and possibly only, chance to lose their virginity before graduating high school is at a massive open-air mass for the visiting Pope.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026 -
Alanya, a fitness influencerand Hana’s crush, convinces her to join an intense physical transformation program.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Next week brings more reports from some major AI names, including Palantir Technologies and Advanced Micro Devices .—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
-
The Storm’s ace pitcher, who also plays outfield and has experience at first base in her previous two varsity seasons, is the real deal who brings a complete game to the field for the Upstate Eight Conference leaders.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The attack threw into chaos one of Washington’s premier social events, which every year attracts some of the country’s most powerful people and the journalists who cover them.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Only one national park attracts more.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lucas — a prominent backer of legalizing marijuana — has said the store sells legal hemp and CBD products.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Jim Falk, who sells seeds and grows crops on a 700-acre farm in western Minnesota with his son, farms specialty soybeans for customers overseas.—
Star Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Borage An annual herb with bright bluish-purple flowers, borage entices important insects to the garden.—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The magnet induces the magnetic flux change needed to initiate the plasma and maintain the plasma current during the burn time.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Many of the aforementioned artists have stayed, and something about the island induces curious projects.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Size also influences how quickly or slowly the compost takes.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Manufacturers should always be able to clearly articulate how and why technology influences decisions.—
Mike Kelleher,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Brainwashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashes. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
